Back in August of 2016, Google stated that it was starting to phase out Chrome apps for Mac and Windows as nobody was really utilizing the apps section in the Chrome Web Store. Well, nearly a year-and-half later Google has completed the job and Chrome browser users are no longer able to install apps from the Web Store.

By early next year, Chrome apps that had previously been downloaded will no longer work. However, Chrome OS users will still be able to use them for the near future and Extensions and Themes will still be accessible. To replace the apps Google is working with developers to create Progressive Web Apps (PWA). These PWAs, that launched earlier this year on Android, will effectively blur the line between websites and installed software. Google expects that PWAs will be available on desktops come mid-2018.